Idaho National Labs

Work Group Report

Presented at the ABRWH meeting
 

Tampa, FL.
 

March 24, 2016
 
Work Group Members
 

Phil Schofield, Chair 

Josie Beach 

Jim Melius 

Dave Richardson 

Gen Roessler 
 

 

 

WG Activities Chronology 

 Nov. 10, 2015: WG meeting, class definition 

discussion 

 Jan. 15: WG teleconference meeting, class 

definition discussion 

 Jan. 25-28, 2016: Initial WG/SC&A onsite data 

capture/interviews – with follow-ups on Feb. 16, 

Feb. 23-24 & March 15-16. 

 March 1: WG meeting, class definition discussion
 
 

 

NIOSH proposed Class definition
 

 All employees of the Department of Energy, its predecessor 

agencies, and their contractors and subcontractors who worked at 

the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in Scoville, Idaho, and (a) 

who were monitored for external radiation at the Idaho Chemical 

Processing Plant (CPP) (e.g., at least one film badge or TLD 

dosimeter from CPP) between January 1, 1963 and February 28, 

1970; or (b) who were monitored for external radiation at INL (e.g., 

at least one film badge or TLD dosimeter) between March 1, 1970 

and December 31, 1974, for a number of work days aggregating at 

least 250 work days, occurring either solely under this employment, 

or in combination with work days within the parameters 

established for one or more other classes of employees in the Special 

Exposure Cohort. 
Work Group Recommendation
 

There is WG consensus on (b) but 

questions remain regarding data 

adequacy and implementation on (a). 

Proceed with provision (b), while 

awaiting final resolution of (a) 
Proposed Class Definition 

“All employees of the Department of Energy, its 

predecessor agencies, and their contractors and 

subcontractors who worked at the Idaho National 

Laboratory (INL) in Scoville, Idaho, and who were 

monitored for external radiation at INL (e.g., at least one 

film badge or TLD dosimeter) between March 1, 1970 and 

December 31, 1974 for a number of work days aggregating 

at least 250 work days, occurring either solely under this 

employment, or in combination with work days within the 

parameters established for one or more other classes of 

employees in the Special Exposure Cohort.” 
Reserved portion 

(a) who were monitored for external 

radiation at the Idaho Chemical 

Processing Plant (CPP) (e.g., at least 

one film badge or TLD dosimeter from 

CPP) between January 1, 1963 and 

February 28, 1970; or 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Class definition Issues
 

 The completeness and adequacy of the recently discovered records, the 

INL visitor cards and temporary film badge reports. NIOSH reported that it 

would be difficult to validate their completeness without a secondary index or 

database with which to compare. Involves extensive research on NIOSH’s part to 

validate. 

 Reliance on subjective judgments based on “weight of evidence” to 

determine worker location where definitive location records are lacking. 

NIOSH indicated that it is difficult to “prove a negative,” and that such judgments are 

common and supportable for dose reconstructions. The WG remains concerned over 

such subjective criteria, which to date have not been used in SEC class definitions 

would be implemented by DOL. 

 Discrepancies in spellings of worker names on temporary badge records 

in the absence of other identifiers (e.g., social security number). It is not 

clear whether it would be feasible to correct and accredit erroneous name entries so 

that no badge records are missed. 
Next steps 

SEC Class Definition: 

 NIOSH & SC&A to review additional 30 

claims submitted since May 2015 

 Temporary badge reports to be indexed, 6-9 

months to complete 

 SC&A to submit draft proposal to validate and 

verify indexed reports (April 2016) 
 

 

Next steps cont. 

Ongoing ER Review: 

 INL data capture and interviews 

 SC&A review of INL early years ( e.g., burial grounds, 

CPP & CFA) 
Questions?